Salamat CFA
I had a prepared material for today but I would do a disservice to the people concerned if can’t give them acknowledgement and gratitude for what they had accomplished last week. This might be “bahaw” as several articles have been written already but I’m doing this because of the column space that I was given the privilege to have. So, fresh or stale, here’s my personal feedback on the match.
In an epic and almost biblical proportion, the Cebu Football Association and the Cebu City Sports Center brought to our province the first-ever and highly successful Asian Football Conference-sanctioned international match against our Azkals and the Lions of Singapore.
But behind every positive endeavors are some minor inconveniences, which could not be avoided. Throw in people who always look for mistakes and you have a great recipe for success. We can never please everyone. Mag buot diay mo.?
The green, green grass of home. In just about three months, the CCSC football pitch, dusty and gravelly when arid, rice paddy muddy when rainy, was transformed into an international standard playing field with the help of Cebu’s two major golf clubs who knows a thing or two on the maintenance and upkeep of greens. The pitch was a sight for football fans and perfect for footballers.
CCSC management should exert efforts to keep the field in pristine condition and be selective in the holding of events and presentations on the field. I dread the thought of what will happen to the grass come Sinulog 2013 with a multitude of painted faces on top of drunken torsos swarming and sashaying all over the place. Very sayang ang grass.
The Kaholeros had their own exclusive spot fronting the grandstand and their chants and the drumbeats were infectious. It would be nice if CCSC can add some bleachers on the opposite side, directly behind one of the buildings of Abellana National School. A few removable bleachers would also be welcome behind both goals. This way, more fans will be accommodated in future football matches.
Me and my son Emil were privileged to have choice seats. When we got to the venue a few minutes after six pm, some ladies in Azkal t-shirts were occupying our assigned seats and since we will be seating between them, we just exchanged seat numbers. Wow, my ears were ringing after the match with their shrieks every time we take ball possession. A guy seated next to my son’s seatmate was having a running commentary of the game which was completely off target, an obvious declaration of football illiteracy.
Although sufficient, more lighting would be nice, maybe one or two light towers will do the trick. Strikers will have a clearer and better aim, goalkeepers will have a sharper vision on an oncoming football.
The game was, as what other sports discipline call, an exhibition game. Football lingo says it was a friendly. Oh yeah, athletes from both sides were really friendly but upon kick off, there never was a sign of being cordial with guys tripping, tackling and elbowing each other. After the contact, award-winning acting jobs complete with facial contortions befall on the aggrieved party, and the aggressor with both hands raised in his own are-you-sure-its-me, you-must-be-kidding kind of innocent look.
Singapore’s pretty therapist had a good workout running in and out of the field, lugging her first aid equipments to assist their fallen warriors, “writhing and rolling” in pain. If the NBA’s rules on flopping be adopted by FIFA en toto, only the referee, the linesmen and the goalkeepers will be left on the playing field.
The first half had the Lions in control of the offense, and gave our goalkeeper a really busy day at the office. They had at least two shots on target which was saved, excluding that great penalty shot stopped before halftime. The second half saw the entry of James and Phil Younghusband and the screams begin splitting my 50-year old ears.
No Neil Etheridge, no Rolland Muller, no problem. Unavailable because of their club commitments in England and Germany, the Azkals had no choice but to start third option goalie Eduardo Sacapano and he delivered magnificently. Cebuano goalie Paolo Pascual was not fielded and this disappointed a lot of his fans. He’s young, experienced and most definitely will have his chances.
All the people behind CFA have done the unimaginable in a constricted time. There were minor details to be addressed but the whole event exceeded the expectations of everyone. Thank you very much, guys. Manila’s Rizal Coliseum and Bacolod’s Panaad Stadium can’t monopolize football anymore. 2013 will see another international football match on Cebuano soil. Believe me. Are you saying amalayer? You think amalayer?
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